Supermarket chain Morrisons are urgently recalling one of its beef products after it was found to be infected with a potentially lethal bug.

Recent tests have revealed traces of listeria in the stores ‘Ready To Eat Peppered Beef Slices’. The harmful bug can lead to serious illness - and is known to cause meningitis.

The Listeria monocytogenes found in the product can cause flu-like symptoms which include a high temperature, muscle pain, chills, sickness and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the bacteria can cause severe complications such as septicaemia (blood poisoning) which can lead to meningitis.

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Some groups of people are more vulnerable to listeria. These include people over the age of 64, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than a month old, and those with an already weakened immune system.

The packets affected are the 150g weight versions with a used by date of February 21.

(Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire)

A statement from Morrisons on the Food Standards Agency website says: “Our routine testing has identified the presence of low levels of listeria in this product. We are asking all customers who have bought this Use By date of this product not to consume it and to return it to their nearest Morrisons store where they will receive a full refund.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standard of product quality and safety.”